Triangle Support Skate
Puck Support
Legend
- player
- cones
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Teach young players to skate to a support position that gives the puck carrier two clear passing options.
What you need
- hockey stick
- puck
- cones
- ice
Your focus
Off-puck support positioning is the most important skill that does not show up on a scoresheet but directly determines whether a team keeps or loses possession. Young players instinctively cluster around the puck carrier , teaching them to spread into support positions creates the spatial habits that underpin all team play. Players who support correctly at age 6-9 become natural playmakers at older ages.
Three cones are set up in a triangle, one at the top, one at each bottom corner.
Player with the puck stands at the top cone; two other players must skate to the two corner cones to create support angles.
Puck carrier chooses a support player and passes to them; that player becomes the new carrier.
The group rotates to new triangle positions after each pass.
Goal
You've got it when the puck carrier always has two players to pass to, if you're not one of them, you're in the wrong spot.
Helpful cues
- Get to your corner, give your partner two choices
- Support means being where they need you BEFORE they need you
- Move as soon as the puck moves, not a second after
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Walk the triangle positions standing still before adding skating.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a defender at the center of the triangle who tries to intercept, support players must find better angles.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.